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Husted, DeWine, Yost, Mandel all say they’re running for re-election

Republicans Jon Husted, Mike DeWine, David Yost and Josh Mandel each said Thursday that he will run for re-election for a second term in 2014.

The four made the commitments while attending a media session at the Ohio Judicial Center sponsored by the Associated Press.

Husted is secretary of state, DeWine is attorney general, Yost is state auditor and Mandel is state treasurer.

Last year, Mandel ran unsuccessfully against incumbent Democrat Sherrod Brown for U.S. Senate. Mandel was criticized for launching a bid for senate shortly after taking office as treasurer.

This year, Mandel said his focus is on doing a good job as treasurer. Looking back on his senate race, Mandel said he faults himself for failing to communicate better with black voters and for not being accessible enough to news reporters.

He noted that although he lost to Brown, it was the closest U.S. Senate race in Ohio since 1976 when Democrat Howard Metzenbaum beat Republican Robert Taft.